Snow/weather conditions on the UAF Fairbanks campus

February 21, 2011

University Relations

The winter storm has produced as much as twelve inches of snow on the Fairbanks campus. Snow and gusting winds are expected to continue until 6 p.m this evening.

The UAF campus remains open, but faculty, staff, and students are urged to use their own best judgment about whether or not it is safe for them to travel to campus.

Facilities Services heavy-duty equipment operators have been working since 9 p.m. last night to clear the campus roads and main walkways. Our entire grounds and labor crews are working on stairs and walkways, and we have employees from other shops and many students assisting.

The main focus is on the main arteries and heavier traffic areas. Priorities for clearing UAF’s nine miles of walkways, 1,700 steps, more than eight miles of roads, and 24 acres of parking for more than 5,000 vehicles during heavy snows are focused on main campus roads, handicap parking spaces/handicap building access areas, walkways, and stairs.

At this time we have employees operating loaders and bobcats to keep roads and walkways as clear as possible.  The wind is causing drifts back on to what has and is being cleaned. Loaders will be making sweeps through parking lots, but due to traffic, we cannot clean individual spaces at this time.

We ask that the campus community be patient as we have all our equipment and crew out in force. If anyone finds themselves stuck, we request that they flag down one of our shuttle drivers and ask them to call parking services for assistance. Parking will do all they can to assist them.  They can be contacted at 474-7275 (PARK).

Please check the UAF on Alert website at http://uafalert.alaska.edu/ and the UAF Cornerstone at http://cornerstone.uaf.edu/ for future updates and announcements.